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Kai Tak Cruise Terminal

The eye-catching radome has already become a Hong Kong landmark, sitting 50 metres high on top of the new cruise terminal building at Kai Tak. A radome provides a weatherproof casing “transparent to radar” and is usually a golf ball.

Leaving a good impression for visitors is crucial in tourism. This is the way to build up a reputation and to attract more tourists in an increasingly competitive market. The soft launch on Wednesday of our HK$8.2 billion new cruise terminal at the old airport site appears to have passed the test, although some arrangements such as transport connections still leave a lot to be desired.

Tourists who arrived with the first cruise vessel to dock at the new Kai Tak terminal gave a mixed review of their experience in the city, with some complaining of transportation confusion, taxi overcharging and too little time to take in the attractions.

Built at a cost of HK$8.2 billion, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal finally welcomed its first visitors yesterday after years of planning and construction. Carrying more than 3,000 passengers and making her maiden voyage to Hong Kong, the 310-metre, 15-deck Mariner of the Seas would have been too big to berth at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The Kai Tak cruise terminal opens its doors and welcomes its first "guest" - the 5,000-berth Mariner of the Seas. The HK$8.2 billion terminal has struggled with a leaking roof in recent weeks and business is expected to be slow in the early months of operation. The government and Tourism Board say they are working together to tackle the problems.

The Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, which opens today, will be a magnet for attracting big-spending visitors, say retail landlords and travel industry operators. "Cruise ship tourists used to be wealthy Western retirees, but this has changed and a growing number of younger people with higher spending power are joining tours," said Joseph Tung Yao-chung, executive director of the Travel Industry Council.

A week before the HK$8.2 billion Kai Tak Cruise Terminal welcomes its first vessel, it is largely functional but not quite ready to face the world.

The immigration counters, connecting bridges, waiting halls and one of the two planned berths are completed ahead of the arrival of cruise passengers on board the Mariner of the Seas ocean liner on Wednesday.

Because of the filthy, high-sulphur bunker fuel cruise ships are known to be burning, at locations virtually at the heart of the city and close to Hong Kong's population centres and commercial districts, environmental groups have been vocal in recent months about cruise ship emissions and the adverse impact on public health.

Passengers said the government's investment in the new terminal could not prevent teething problems for Asia's new cruise ship industry - such as the long distances between berths and onshore attractions.

New Premier Li Keqiang unveils his new cabinet team as the National People's Congress plenary approaches its conclusion. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying touches down in Beijing for meetings with new ministers and senior officials.